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Carcass Management

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The purpose of this page is to guide you through carcass management options for

emergency planning or response purposes. The response goal for waste

management is to properly dispose of contaminated and potentially contaminated

materials, including animal carcasses, as soon as possible while containing disease

pathogens, protecting the environment, ensuring stakeholder acceptance, and

maximizing cost effectiveness.

We offer tools and resources to develop strategies for action plans and response,

training and exercise for responders, and science-based information to make

informed decisions before and during emergency response. These materials are

intended to help with emergency planning and response phases through incremental

steps of an incident. There are no simple solutions in response; often multiple

strategies may be necessary.

Incident Response–First Steps

Effective carcass management takes planning. Below is step-by-step guidance and

tools to assist you in the planning process.
Step 1: Assess the Situation

A. The first step in carcass management is to assess the situation. Identify

the types and quantities of animals involved, their average weight, and reason for

their illness. You'll also need to consider the number and capacity of roll-off

dumpsters available; distances to landfills, rendering, and incineration units; and the

space available for compost or burial.

Use the Options, Time, and Cost Calculator by entering information in the blue boxes

at the top of the tool. The calculator provides a comparison of onsite and offsite

disposal options, including the time involved to dispose of carcasses and relative

costs. It will help you make quick, informed decisions for planning.

B. Locating a specific premises can easily be done by clicking on the Routing Map.

Rendering and incineration facilities, landfills, and State environmental offices will be

shown in relation to the premises. Use the measuring tool (ruler icon in the upper

right corner) to find the distance to a particular disposal facility. Click on the routing

icon to obtain driving instructions for convenience and planning purposes.

Options, Time, and Cost Calculator 

Emergency Carcass Management Desk Reference Guide 

Step 2: Draft Carcass Management Plan

A. The second step is to draft a Carcass Management Plan. Use the results

from Step 1 and the checklists below. The calculator in step 1 will identify carcass

management options. Then, the checklists ask questions to help you identify the

resources you have for each option. Enter the resulting information in the SiteSpecific Carcass Management Plan Template.

Note: Although the calculator includes an option for above-ground burial (referred

to elsewhere as "shallow burial with carbon"), there is no additional checklist or

planning information for this option; the technology supporting above-ground burials

is not proven for all diseases and, if used, must have State approval. View this

guidance document (736.36 KB) to learn more.
B. For those options that are feasible, decide how you will implement them. Use the

planning guides below to estimate needed materials, supplies, and equipment.

Enter this information in the Site-Specific Carcass Management Plan Template.

Indoor Composting

Checklist (12.24 MB) Planning Guide (12.24 MB)

Outdoor Composting

Checklist (12.24 MB) Planning Guide (191.94 KB)

Open Air Burning

Checklist (12.24 MB) Planning Guide (191.94 KB)

Onsite Burial

Checklist (12.24 MB) Planning Guide (191.94 KB)

Mobile Technologies

Checklist (12.24 MB) Planning Guide (191.94 KB)

Landfills

Checklist (12.24 MB) Planning Guide (191.94 KB)

Rendering Plants

Checklist (12.24 MB) Planning Guide (191.94 KB)

Incinerators

Checklist (12.24 MB) Planning Guide (191.94 KB)

Step 3: Review Your Plan With State Officials

The third step is to coordinate with local and State environmental officials.

Once you have completed steps 1 and 2 and have a draft plan, discuss the plan with

your State agriculture and environmental officials and make any changes needed to
gain their written approval. Use the link below to identify your State's department of

agriculture.

The Site-Specific Carcass Management Plan Template includes blank approval

signature lines at the end for use if desired.

State Departments of Agriculture/Environmental Agencies

- Select a State - ▾

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All Contacts

Have Questions?

Please email robert.a.miknis@usda.gov and jose.gallegos@usda.gov for any

questions or comments.

Planning and Training

This section offers background planning documents, training modules, and other

resources to help you create a carcass management plan.

Creating Your Carcass Management Plan

FAD PReP Disposal Standard Operating Procedures

State planning templates (42.22 KB)

Site-Specific Carcass Management Plan Template (69.29 KB)

Background Planning Documents

View the guidelines document for guidance on disposal principles in an animal

health emergency. For disease-specific information, view the chapters on

depopulation and disposal in the response plans on the pages listed below.

FAD PReP NAHEMS Guidelines: Disposal (2.88 MB)

African Swine Fever Emergency Response

Classical Swine Fever Response Plan (6.91 MB)

Foot-and-Mouth Disease Emergency Response
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Emergency Response

Virulent Newcastle Disease Emergency Response

Carcass Management Training

Orientation (700.88 KB)

Emergency Management Tools (1.04 MB)

Health, Safety, and Personal Protective Equipment (827.31 KB)

Biosecurity (1.06 MB)

Secure Transport (623.97 KB)

Offsite Permitted Landfill (884.28 KB)

Rendering (715.01 KB)

Offsite Incineration (539.05 KB)

Composting (957.46 KB)

Open Burning (621.17 KB)

Onsite Burial (635.95 KB)

Mobile Treatment Technologies (701.79 KB)

Related Training Materials and Resources

Veterinary Services National Training and Exercise Program

Carcass Management Video Gallery

Train to Contain Biosecurity Training

ESF #11-Specific Training

Training Requirements for ESF #11 Desk Officers:

ICS 100 Introduction to Incident Command

IS-200.b ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents (this is a

substitute for ICS-200)

ESF #11 Desk Officer Training (CLASSROOM—contact your ESF #11

Coordinator for scheduling)

IS-811 ESF #11 Overview

Optional for Desk Officers (required for agency coordinators except

ICS 300 & 400):

IS-700.A National Incident Management System

IS-800.B National Response Framework

IS-293 Mission Assignment Overview
ICS 300 Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents; sign up in Aglearn

ICS 400 Advanced ICS for Command and General Staff; sign up in Aglearn

External Resources

Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100 (Federal Emergency

Management Agency)

Planning for Natural Disaster Debris (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Poultry Biosecurity (Iowa State University)

Carcass Disposal: A Comprehensive Review (Kansas State University)

Tools and Resources

This section offers tools and resources to help with carcass disposal.

Disposal Tools

ASF Response: Depopulation, Disposal, and Decontamination Guidance (3D

Summary Guide)

Options, Time, and Cost Calculator (2.21 MB)

Agriculture Security Module (303.16 KB)

Livestock Mortality Composting Protocol (2.34 MB)

HPAI Mortality Composting Protocol (1.75 MB)

Web Soil Survey (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service)

Incident Waste Decision Support Tool (I-WASTE DST) (U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency)

I-WASTE DST Training (use Adobe Flash Player to view)

Composting & Environmental Stewardship (Iowa State University, Iowa Pork

Industry Center)

Carcass Disposal Information (Veterinary Compliance Assistance)

Composting Documents

The following documents were developed for a highly pathogenic avian influenza

(HPAI) incident, but can be applied in response to other diseases as well.

Mortality Composting Protocol for Avian Influenza Infected Flocks (1.75 MB)

(also in Spanish (1.77 MB))
Overview of the Composting Process (185.1 KB) (also in Spanish (164.71 KB))

Pre-Compost Windrows for Avian Influenza-Infected Flocks (186.37 KB) (also in

Spanish (245.51 KB))

Carbon Sources for Windrow Construction (261.59 KB) (also in Spanish (401.88

KB))

Finding Carbon Source: What To Say When Calling Potential Vendors

(159.17 KB)

Windrow Construction Protocol for Avian Influenza-Infected Flocks (252.4 KB)

(also in Spanish (361.1 KB))

Temperature Monitoring Protocol of Avian Influenza-Infected Flocks (251.86 KB)

(also in Spanish (312.2 KB))

Calibration of Analog Thermometers (524.61 KB) (also in Spanish (409.34

KB))

Compost Windrow Construction Approval Checklist for Avian Influenza-Infected

Flocks (36.41 KB)

Phase 1 Windrow Evaluation Checklist Days 1–14 for Avian Influenza-Infected

Flocks (138.91 KB)

Phase 2 Windrow Evaluation Checklist Days 14–28 for Avian Influenza-Infected

Flocks (139.44 KB)

Cleaning and Disinfection Basics: Virus Elimination (233.01 KB) (also in Spanish

(233.01 KB))

Routing and Transportation

Routing Map

Risk Assessment for the Transmission of Foot-and-Mouth Disease via Movement

of Swine and Cattle Carcasses from FMD-Infected Premises to a Disposal Site

(University of Minnesota)

Coordination

Interagency Coordination

Stafford Act Tiered Response

Carcass Management: Authority and Roles Table (21.34 KB)

Emergency Support Function #11—Agriculture and Natural Resources Strategic

Plan, 2016–2020
Coordination

Landfill Disposal Guidance: Recommended Waste Disposal Practices for

Landfills (12.24 MB)

In-House Composting: Overview of In-House Composting Process (12.24 MB)

Secure Transport: Loading Procedures (12.24 MB)

Disposal and Related Regulations

USDA Regulations—Carcass Disposal

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Requirements

DOT: Clarification of 49 CFR Parts 171-180

Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Requirements

OSHA Respirator Protection eTool

OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER

)

Emergency Carcass Management Desk Reference Guide

View the full Emergency Carcass Management Desk Reference Guide (13.12 MB) or

browse by section.

Section 1: Response Process (12.24 MB)

Section 2: Decision Tools (12.24 MB)

Section 3: In-House Composting

Section 4: Outdoor Composting

Section 5: Open Air Burning

Section 6: On-Site Burial

Section 7: Mobile Treatment

Section 8: Landfills

Section 9: Rendering

Section 10: Off-Site Incineration

Section 11: Secure Transport

Section 12: Biosecurity

Section 13: References

Section 14: Appendices

Other Resources
International Symposium on Animal Mortality Management

Emergency Management: Disinfectants

Carcass Management: Research Articles and Documents